Awards & Certifications

Women in Business

We’re proud to call Teatulia’s Co-Founder and CEO, Linda Appel Lipsius, one of today’s pioneering female CEOs and groundbreaking business leaders in the tea industry.

But don’t just take our word for it. Over the past few years, Linda and Teatulia® have received the following honors:

2016: The Specialty Foods Association honored Linda with a Leadership Award for Citizenship for going "above and beyond" in advancing food standards in society by creating social, economic, and environmental impact through innovation and vision.

2014: Linda was named by the Denver Business Journal as a Mile High Leaders’ finalist for Outstanding Women in Business. She is has led the brand to become one of the fastest growing in the industry while also prioritizing social responsibility.

2014: Teatulia was named one of Colorado's Company to Watch by ColoradoBiz Magazine. This award acknowledges our drive, excellence and influence as a growing company in the state. Colorado Companies to Watch honors second stage companies that develop valuable products and services, create quality jobs, enrich communities and create new industries throughout Colorado.

2014: Through Linda’s leadership, Teatulia also earned its Rainforest Alliance Certification for its work to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods. Rainforest Alliance certification encourages farmers to grow crops and manage their lands in a way that helps support local communities with environmental protection, social equity and economic viability.

2014: We were also one of the first Colorado companies to become a Certified B Corporation, committed to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

She's mission driven.

With a background in consumer brands and packaged goods, a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and a passion for social responsibility, Linda introduced Teatulia Organic Teas to the U.S. in 2006. It’s the company’s mission to produce great-tasting teas that are better for the land, its people and the environment that she fell in love with. She was also inspired by the fact that Teatulia was the first to introduce single-garden, organic tea from Bangladesh to the rest of the world.

“By sharing Teatulia’s story, I hope to expand people’s experiences as they learn about how we are doing things different and how good tea really can be.” – Linda

She’s steeped in sustainability.

Teatulia’s teas hail from our own USDA-certified organic tea garden, located in the Tetulia region of Northern Bangladesh. Its one of the world’s largest organic gardens, cultivated using only natural farming methods that help rejuvenate the land. Started in 2000 by Linda’s busi­ness partner, K. Anis Ahmed, the tea garden was a social enterprise designed to create jobs in a remote and impoverished area of Bangladesh. Teatulia introduced a farming cooperative that helps improve the lives of the Bangladeshi community cultivating the teas through revolutionary education, health, and cattle-lending programs.

“What was once a poverty-stricken region in a dry, barren wasteland is now a lush paradise. Our organic farming has not only provided jobs but also helped restore the ecosystem for future generations.” – Linda

Teatulia’s 3,000-acre tea garden employs more than 600 workers and supports 1,700+ community members through its farming co-op. The co-op teaches organic farming, allowing members to feed their families and strengthen their socio-economic condition by earning a profit on their crops. The co-op’s education programs have improved literacy rates by 50% or more and graduated more than 370 of its members. The co-op also supports a cattle-lending program where members are loaned dairy cows in exchange for cow dung used as compost for the tea garden.

"It's amazing to see your work change lives by creating opportunity. I know that our programs are making a huge impact on the lives of the Bangladeshi communities working in our tea garden. I hope that what we are doing in our garden will positively impact how other companies run their business.” – Linda

She's committed to community.

The Zuni hub in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood houses Teatulia's headquarters as well as Teatulia Tea Bar and the mama ‘hood. Teatulia Tea Bar opened in 2012 to be a public face for Teatulia, a tea lab and a community gathering place. Tea Bar serves Teatulia (of course) and other fine teas from around the world along with coffee and locally-made food. Tea classes and trainings also happen here.

And in the midst of it all is the mama'hood, also owned by Lipsius. The mama'hood is a one-stop-shop for new and existing moms and their families with a fantastic shop and studios that hold classes and groups focused on expert breastfeeding support, pre/post-natal and kids yoga childbirth education, and parenting topics.

“As a working mom, I wanted to create a space where everyone would feel supported and welcomed. A place to share a delicious cup of tea, find resources, exchange ideas and get inspiration and make friends. We’re thrilled our local community has embraced the concept.” – Linda